Paper hanger&#39;s plumb bob



Oct 1951 J. H. MEHAFFEY PAPER HANGER'S PLUMB BOB Filed Sept. 9, 1949INVENTOR. Joan H. MEHAFFEY Patented Oct. 2, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE PAPER HAN GERS PLUMB BOB John H. Mehafiey, Metuchen, N. J.

Application September 9, 1949, Serial No. 114,874

3 Claims. (01. 33-210) between the hob and the vertical surface as adetrimental factor in the accurate use and operation of the device.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, merely for purposes of illus tration, a specificembodiment of the invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure l is an outboard side elevation;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line 2-2 ofFigure 1; r

Figure. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section, taken on the line3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section, taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary outboard side elevation showing the lower partof a modified form,

embodying anti-friction balls;

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical section, taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein similar numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 generallydesignates the body of the bob, having a substantially isosceles opentriangular shape, having plane parallel inboard and outboard sides 8 and9, respectively. The body 1 includes the horizontal base I!) having astraight plane under surface ll extending to intersect the outboard andinboard sides 8 and 9, so as to define horizontal corners I2 and 13,respectively.

Between the points 14 and I5, equidistantly spaced from the ends of thebase II], the upper side of the base is angularly reduced to provide thesurface I6 which declines in an outboard direction from intersection at[1 with the inboard bob side 8 to intersection with the outboard cornerl3. At the middle or center of the elevated inboard edge 11 of thesurface It is formed a notch l8 which is used to mark a vertical on awall against which the device is engaged.

From the ends of the base rise the converg- 2 7 ing uprights or lateralsl9, [9 which. meet at their upper ends in an apex 20 having a fiat top2| formed centrally with a threaded recess 22, in which is threaded aclamping ring 23. .As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the recess 22 isdisplaced somewhat toward the inboard side 8 of the plumb bob body 1 fora purpose hereinafter explained.

Held in place in the recess 22 by the ring 23 is the flat disc base 24of the vertical cord-attaching element 25 to which the plumb bob cord 26is adapted to be secured. The disc 24 is smaller in diameter than therecess 22 so that the base 24 can be shifted in the recess intoperpendicular alignment with the notch l8 and then clamped in place bythe ring 23.

The base 10 is traversed midway between its edges l2 and 13 by twovertical parallel screws 21, 21 which are equidistantly spaced from thepoints I4 and I5 and have heads 28 countersunk flush with the undersurface ll of the base 10. The shanks of the screws 21, 21 rise abovethe base to rigidly support thereon the horizontal bubble level 29 whichinvolves a IlJ-shaped bracket 30 traversed by the screws 21, 21. Upperand lower nuts 3| and 32, respectively, on the screws engage the top andbottom of the bight of the U-shaped bracket 30 and afford means wherebythe level 29 can be adjusted to parallelism with the base 10.

When the above-described device is suspended by the cord 26, thecord-attaching element 25 having been adjusted to vertical alignmentwith the marking notch l8, and hence with the bubble 33 of the level 29,the inboard displacement of the cord 26 provided for by the structuredescribed above, causes the body 1 to engage the inboard base edge 12against the wall 34 with the body 1 leaning slightly away from theperpendicular and hence away from the wall, thereby eliminatingundesirable drag of the body 1 upon the wall, whereby an accurate plumbposition of the device is assured. Hence, a mark made in the notch Itwill be perpendicular with the point above the plumb bob body 1 fromwhich the cord I6 is suspended. It will be apparent that the cord may beattached to a nail or other supporting element fastened to a wall, orthe cord may be held in the hand.

If desired, the lower part of the body 1 may be provided with wall-dragand friction-reducing balls 35, 35 preferably larger in diameter thanthe thickness of the body, and arranged to project equally at theinboard and outboard sides 8 and 9, respectively, of the body 1, asshown in Figures 5 and 6. To accommodate the balls 35,

35, the lower ends of the laterals l9 are formed at their lower endswith circular threaded recesses 36 opening through one side thereof, thefloors of the recesses being formed with spherical segmental portions3'! fitting the balls and opening through the opposite side of thelaterals, as shown in Figure 6. The balls 35 fit in the recess portionsand are held revolubly in place by threaded rings 38. having sphericalsegmental openings 39flttirig the bfalls. 1 g It will be observed thatwith the device properly adjusted, the bubble 33 of the level 29, whenaligned with the notch l8, assures marking of an accurate vertical onthe wall 31 through the I notch l8, with the bubble 33 at center,position. In this level position of the device, tlie'st'raiglit undersurface I I of the base-"1'0 serves to establish an accurate guide formarking a, true horizontal on the wall 34.

I claim: m

"mb bbb comprising a .1 vanta e c plumb bob'body com-prisingahorizontally-elongated 'base and-laterals rising from the oppositeendso'f said "base anapeir joining the upper ends of said laterals, anelement on said'apex for ber rising through said ring tb which a cord isattachable, 'adisc b e an the lower 'end of said member smaller indiameter than "and engagin the bottom of saidrecessand movable edgewisein all directions "in "said recess to perpendicularly "ali gn saidmember with said notch, 'said ring being arranged to'bescrew'"'down'ulpon said base to-"hold said element in adjusted position;

"2'. A plumb bob eb'imp smg 'a 'horizontalllydisfposed ease, spar; (ospaces uprights rising from said base, a ush'aped bracket positionedwithin the space between saidiipr-ights aboveand spaced from said basewith it's 'Iegs facing toward the free ends of said uprights, ahorizontally "disposed level provided witha bubble indicatorintermediate its ends supported in the legs of said bracket, securingmeans extending through the bight of said bracket and engaging said basefor securing said bracket to said base, and means connected to the freeends of'said uprights for suspendingly supporting said uprights from asupporting'element, said base being provided with a notch substantiallycentrally thereof for markperpendicular vertical on ,a vertical wall Msaid base fis in horizontal #ptsitiofi as indicated by the bubbleindiator.

3. A plumb bob comprising a horizontally disposed base, a pair of spaceduprights rising from said bases U-shaped bracket positioned withinthespace betyveen said uprights above and spaced "rrsm said base withits legs facing toward the flree endsnisaidiuprights, a horizontallydisposed level provided with a bubble indicator intermed iateitsendssupported in the legs of said bracket, securing means extending throughthe bight of said bracket *anji engaging said base for semg'saidbrack'et t'osaidbase, means connected to the me efld's Of Said 'upfights'for'suspndihgly "s ipp ortin gsaid uprights irm a lsilpporting ele-"said base beirigrprovided with a Indtchsubst'antially -centrallythereof for m'ark'ing a perpendicular vertical on "a verticalfwall whensaid base -i's H1 hdrihohtal-position as 'indicate dby the bubbleindicator, and 'anti friction meanson the lower *part of r the inboardiside "of said plumb bob fox-establishing non-drag engagement ':of thelower part of said b0dy'with"a' Wall to bem'aikd 'thioligh saidndtch.

